Brian keeps Casey clan loy tradition alive by bringing Pat the Baker Cup home to Longford
'2023 championship was extra special as my wife Deirdre, who was competing in the All-Ireland for the second time, brought home a silver medal'
Killoe’s Brian Casey was delighted to win a gold medal at the 2023 All-Ireland Senior Loy Digging Championship in Ratheniska for a second time and bring the Pat the Baker Cup back to Longford.
The competition at National Level is always fierce and 2023 was no different. There were only five marks separating the top three competitors in the Senior Class, and this was the trend across all of the classes.
Caption: Deirdre Casey from Longford is presented with a silver medal for Loy Ladies Junior by NPA President James Sutton and Chairperson Mick Mahon at the National Ploughing Association awards and banquet in Portlaoise Picture: Alf Harvey
It was fitting that the Senior title was brought back to Longford in 2023, the year that Eamon Egan, one of the main individuals who was instrumental in setting up the Loy Association of Ireland in 1992, sadly passed away.
Brian reflected, “Without the dedication and hard work of stalwarts like Eamon, the Association would not have been set up nor would it continue to be as strong as it is today.”
Brian’s triumph in 2023 was his seventh All Ireland Loy Digging title overall, having won gold in other classes since he started competing back in 2004.
Indeed, the Casey family has a great tradition of competing in the Loy Digging Championships over the years.
Brian outlined, “My father Bernard has won eight All-Ireland titles, my cousin David has won two All-Ireland titles and my cousin Cian came second in the All-Ireland on two occasions. In the early years of the competition, our loy digging success was under the watchful eye of my grandfather Mattie who tutored us in the skill involved in the ancient art of Loy Digging, and even handmade our loys, which we still use in competitions to this day.”
Brian said that loy diggers are grateful to those who have preserved this uniquely Irish tradition, adding it is hoped that this ancient craft will continue to be handed down from generation to generation.